gemstone- a mineral that has color/s and it is very hard.
ore- a mineral that can be used to different things such as metals.
smelting- a process that separates the useable metal from the other non-useful elements from ore.
alloy- a metal which is mixed by some other minerals or metals.
Outline
The Use of Minerals
People use Minerals everywhere.
Mineral can be used for many things such as gemstone for jewelry, metal for machines, and quartz for watches.
Gemstomes
Gemstones are the mineral that are hard and colorful.
It has brilliant, or glassy luster.
People value gemstones for many different reasons.
It is because of color, luster, and its rarity.
Gemstones which is cut, and polished is called gem.
It is used for jewelry, decoration, mechanical parts, grinding, and polishing.
Metals
Some minerals are the source of metals.
Metals is very useful because it can be streched, flattened, hammered, and also molded.
Other Useful Minerals
There are a lot of other different useful minerals other than gemstones and metals.
They can be used in food, medicine, fertilizers, building materials, and much other.
For example, talc can be used in talcum powder, fluorite is important in making aluminum, and steel, and calcite can be used in optical instruments.
Ores
Ore is a rock that contains useful minerals and/or metals.
The metal in ore usually does not occur in pure form.
Prospecting
Prospector is anyone who searches for a certain ore deposit.
Prospector look for certain features.
They examine plants growing in the area,and tests streams for a certain presence of certain chemicals.
Mining
There are three types of mining.
Strip Mines
Strip mines uses earthmoving equipment to expose ore to the surface.
Open Pit Mines
Open pit mine digs a tremendous pit to remove ore deposits which is near the surface, but may extends for hundreds of meters.
Some are more than kilometers wide and nearly as deep.
Shaft Mines
Shaft mines have a networks of tunnel.
Shaft mines follows the veins of ore.
By following, it extends deep in the ground.
Mining can harm the environment.
Strip and open pit mines leave scars on the ground.
Waste materials from mining can pollute rivers and lakes.
Table of Contents
Section 3 (4-3) Mineral Resources
Vocabulary
gemstone- a mineral that has color/s and it is very hard.ore- a mineral that can be used to different things such as metals.
smelting- a process that separates the useable metal from the other non-useful elements from ore.
alloy- a metal which is mixed by some other minerals or metals.
Outline
The Use of Minerals
Ores
Prospecting
Mining
Smelting
Diagram